How to declutter: the dos and don’ts of having a good clear out | The Big Decluttering Guide

Few things in life feel better than a good clear out. Whether you’re decluttering for a practical reason such as moving house, to make some extra cash, or simply to feel calmer and happier in your own home, consider this your sign to stop putting it off and to start to live better with less.

But where should you start? How should you edit? And what should you do with all the stuff you no longer need? Here are the tips and tricks to help you leap into a satisfying spring clean – any time of year.

Do: start with duplicates
“Most of us don’t have a clutter problem, we have a duplicate problem,” says Motsi Mabuse, dancer extraordinaire and host of Vinted’s new decluttering show, Live Better For Less.

How many mugs, black hoodies and “just-in-case” phones do you have, right now? Probably more than you need.

Starting with duplicates is a great way to get yourself comfortable with the idea of decluttering, as the stakes are slightly lower than getting rid of your one and only items.

Don’t: try to shop the problem away
Sure, perhaps more cute storage baskets could help you get organised – but the first step of decluttering should always be about tackling those things that you have, but no longer need or use. Focus on sorting things to keep, sell, donate and recycle. Then (and only then) you can work out how best to store what’s left.

Do: take your time
Rome wasn’t decluttered in a day, so prioritise being thorough and considered about your choices in terms of what to part with, rather than speed. After all, you’d be doing your stuff a disservice – and you might end up with declutterer’s regret.

Instead, set aside enough time to look at every item carefully and work out what you’re ready to part with. There’s no shame in hanging on to things if you realise you’re not ready to pass them on. Not everyone is a minimalist at heart, and sometimes clutter can be a source of comfort, identity and joy.

But ask yourself: am I prepared to be responsible for this thing for another year, or five? Do I want to dust it, fix it, find a place for it, deal with it falling on my head from a high cupboard every once in a while? Finally, rather than shoving it back from whence it came, leave it out somewhere prominent. You might be surprised that 24 hours of tripping over an item is enough to convince you you’re ready to say goodbye after all.

Don’t: keep things for a life you don’t have
We all do it. “One day,” we tell ourselves, “I will be the person who uses a bread maker. I will start making nutritious breakfast smoothies. I will learn to sew all my own clothes.”

But if we haven’t been that person in the past decade, while the kit gathered dust, what are the chances of magically becoming them now?

Instead of beating yourself up for not being that person, let go of the guilt and embrace the extra headspace – and cupboard space – it frees up. You might be a person who really enjoys watching TV in a tidy room, and there’s no shame in that.

Do: see value in what you already have
It might be clutter to you, but it could still be treasure to someone else. So give books, toys, homewares and tech a second life the easy way, via Vinted.

Not just for clothes, Vinted is the simple way to find your no-longer-needed items a new home, and make some money back in the process. There’s comfort in knowing your clear out is fuelling the circular economy, rather than contributing to landfill – according to a Vinted study,* 52% list to avoid wasting what someone else might want. And for sentimental types, focusing on what you can gain, rather than what you’re giving up, can be a positive way to reframe decluttering and make it easier to part with old things. And there are no sellers’ fees, so you can keep everything you earn.

Why not spend the money on experiences, such as family day trips or meals out, so there’s something – and crucially, not new clutter – to look forward to at the end of the process?

Do: take photos, or find other ways to immortalise
Ask yourself, is it really the object you’re struggling to part with, or just the memories attached to it?

Find ways to immortalise sentimental items without keeping them in their entirety – whether that’s taking photos to look back on, passing things on to loved ones for their own homes (provided they actually want them), or turning them into unique art. Silk scarves look fabulous framed, greetings cards can become collages and old baby clothes can be made into a patchwork quilt or wall hanging. There are professionals who’ll do this, if you’ve already sold that sewing machine on. But whatever you choose to do with treasured possessions, heed the wise words of Lodovica Comello, Italian host of Live Better For Less: “you’re not giving away the memory. The memory stays with you, not with the object.”

Do: appoint an independent adjudicator
If you struggle to be decisive, find a trusted person – ideally not a spouse or member of your household with skin in the game – and give them the final say in what stays and what goes. But remember, this only works if you’re prepared to respect their judgment and not take things personally.

Don’t: make the same mistakes again
Every declutter should be a learning exercise, so take note. What haven’t you worn, loved or used? Why?

What are the mistakes you often make when shopping? Are you drawn to things because they’re a bargain, rather than because they have a useful place in your life? Do you buy on impulse, rather than taking time to mull it over? Be honest with yourself about what you can learn from the items you’re selling on, and use those findings to inform your future purchases.

Even better, shop secondhand on Vinted to reap the benefits of everyone else’s decluttering. It’s the circle of stuff, and it moves us all.

Ready to turn your unused items into some extra cash? List them on Vinted now

_{*Data retrieved from Vinted’s impact report 2025, for the report and methodology please visit: company.vinted.com/sustainability}